Martyrdom of St Stephen

The Martyrdom of Saint Stephen, painted around 1660, depicts the stoning of the first Christian martyr. This late work by Cortona demonstrates the enduring vitality of his dramatic compositional style in his final decade. The subject was particularly meaningful in Counter-Reformation Rome, where the early martyrs served as models of faith for the contemporary Church. Characteristic of Cortona's approach, the work displays exuberant illusionism, dynamic compositions, rich color, grand decorative schemes.

The violent scene is organized around the falling figure of Stephen, with his persecutors arranged in dynamic, overlapping poses. Cortona's late palette maintains its characteristic warmth, while the expressive gestures and dramatic lighting sustain the emotional intensity of the martyrdom.